Other Proposed Uses

What Is Honey Used for Today?

Honey consists largely of fructose and glucose, two related forms of sugar. Its sugar concentration is high enough to kill microorganisms in the same manner as the sugar in jams and jellies. This would appear to be the primary basis for honey's most studied use: as a topical application to treat or prevent infection.

In some controlled trials, honey has shown some promise for treating abcesses,3, diabetic foot ulcers,19 venous leg ulcers,21,26, pressure ulcers (bedsores)26minor abrasions,17 and post-operative wound infections,7
as well as for
preventing
infections following surgery
9 and catheter infections in people undergoing hemodialysis.10

In most of these studies, honey was not used alone but combined with standard treatments, such as oral or topical antibiotics or surgical debridement (removal of dead tissue). Not all studies show clear benefit, however. One trial found that antibacterial honey (Medihoney) did not significantly improve wound healing in 105 patients mostly suffering from leg ulcers.20 Conversely, topical honey improved healing time compared to saline gauze and silver sulfadiazine in 2 trials of 140 patients with skin ulcers or burns.25

The best evidence is probably for the acute treatment of minor burns,4-6,18,26 though the studies supporting this use remain inconclusive. Sugar paste too has shown promise as a wound treatment. However, some evidence hints that honey may be more effective than concentrated sugar.1 If true, this suggests that additional non-sugar constituents of honey provide benefit. It is often stated in honey-related literature that honey produces hydrogen peroxide, and that this explains additional benefit. However, there is no evidence that honey produces sufficient hydrogen peroxide to have any meaningful effect. Another theory is that honey might stimulate healing.2

Other uses of honey have also shown some promise. In one study, when participants regularly chewed "honey leather" their inflammation of the gums (
gingivitis) decreased.11

Honey has also been studied as a potential treatment for nighttime cough.23,24 In one study, 130 children aged 2-17 with runny nose and cough were randomized to receive nightly doses of buckwheat honey, artificial honey-flavored cough medicine (dextromethorphan), or no treatment.23
On a parent-rated symptom scale, honey was found to be the most helpful in reducing nighttime cough and improving sleep in children with
upper respiratory infection. Adding to these positive results, another study randomized 139 children aged 2-5 years old with upper respiratory infection to 1 of 4 treatment groups: honey, dextromethorphan, diphenhydramine (eg, Benadryl), or no treatment.24
Standard care, such as acetaminophen and nose drops, was also given to all children as needed. While improvement was seen in all of the groups, children receiving honey had the fewest episodes of nighttime cough and slept better compared to children in the other groups.

It has been suggested that consumption of honey can reduces symptoms of
hay fever. However, the one published study designed to test this suggestion failed to find benefit.15

A small study of 40 patients suggests topical honey may help prevent development of oral mucositis (painful inflammation of mucus membranes in the mouth) in patients having radiochemotherapy for head and neck cancer.22

Dosage

When used topically to treat burns, honey is generally applied either directly to the wound in a thin coat, or in the form of a honey-soaked dressing.

Oral dosages of honey for medicinal purposes range from 1 to 5 tablespoons several times daily.

Safety Issues

As a widely consumed food, honey is believed to be quite safe. However, infants younger than 12 months should not consume honey, due to the risk of infant botulism.

Honey may contain slight amounts of pollen. However, it appears that allergy to honey is uncommon among pollen-allergic people.16

Shadkam MN, Mozaffari-Khosravi H, Mozayan MR. A comparison of the effect of honey, dextromethorphan, and diphenhydramine on nightly cough and sleep quality in children and their parents.
J Altern Complement Med.
2010;16(7):787-793.

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.